Luke 7

Of late I have anchored myself in the physician's account of Jesus, the man from Nazareth.  His historical garnishes provide insights into first century Judea like no other writer.  John MacArthur recognized Luke's penchant for detail by noting his account of Paul's imprisoned cruise to Rome gives nautical historians more information on ancient seafaring in the Med than any other written work (Acts 27).

Anyway, back into the gospel, I was blessed this morning by a number of morsels that I'll be savoring throughout the day.

1. Centurions.  This whole section (Luke 7:1-10) blows the mind in so many ways.  The mutual love between the Roman for the Jewish community he oversaw.  He built a synagogue for the Jews.  His extraordinary faith in Jesus' authority.  What I was left wondering as I feasted upon this section, did he ever get a chance to formally meet his Savior this side of paradise?  They didn't meet in this section.
   
2. The Baptizer.  When Jesus first enters the ministry scene, John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, heralds the Lord's identity and his authority.  As Jesus' fame grew and John's crowds waned, the baptizer accepted this and rejoiced in this (here).  In Luke 7, John has been imprisoned for some time by Herod Antipas.  As he languished in a dank jail, doubts began to creep into his mind.  Was Jesus really the Messiah?  Maybe I was wrong.  So John sends some disciples to ask him.  Jesus didn't rebuke their questioning his identity.  John struggled (as I sometimes do).  He wanted to know (as I sometimes do).  So the Christ provided physical evidence in fulfillment of prophecy and told John's disciples to go and report what they had seen.  As they turned to walk away, I imagine a smile of deep pride cross the Savior's face knowing the love of John, knowing the baptizer would soon die a martyr's death, knowing that he too would soon follow, as he said to them, "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
   
3. The Drunkard.  Much of the biblically Christian world has an erroneous view of alcohol.  That's somewhat ironic considering their high view of the word of God and of teaching and understanding it aright.  Oddly, man seems to think Jesus did not consume alcohol during his earthly ministry or that the "wine" spoken of in Scripture was so diluted with water as to have no inebriating effects.  That's not the way Scripture reads.  And I haven't seen that born out historically, except among those asserting alcoholic prohibition.
   
   All that aside, it seems plain in Luke 7 that Jesus did consume wine and wine that could make drunk if improperly consumed.  Christ compared and contrasted his ministry with John's and how they had both been received by the religious of their day.  He said,
   

   For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
   

   Jesus admits to drinking (it was no big deal for that was a normal beverage of the day).  What he drank was of such a quality as to be able to cause drunkenness because his enemies indicted him for being a drunkard because of what he drank.
   
   Am I encouraging you to go out and buy cases of the finest Cabernet?  No.  Just wanting to make sure we're on the same page.
   
4. Love.  The last section of Luke 7 tells of a harlot who lavished the Lord with love.  Real love.  Deep affection.  Heart-broken adoration understanding her filth and the mercy of the One whom she anointed.  After skewering his unloving host, Jesus says,
   

   Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much.
   

   A couple eye-poppers on this one.  Jesus didn't deny or ignore or rationalize her rebellion against God.  Notice his qualifier about her sins, "...which are many."  You can imagine him nodding in concession with his host that, yes, she was a bad woman.  If we simply had this verse, we would think that her actions earned her forgiveness.  That was not the case.  Notice Jesus' words as he turned to the whore.
   

   Your faith has saved you; go in peace.
   

   She knew she had no merit.  She could only trust in the man who reclined at the table.  Her trust in him was manifest in her acts of love.  Her weeping and anointing were the vehicles of her faith.  She could not purchase or procure her right standing with God through her actions.  It was trusting him alone with impoverished hands that established her aright before God.
   

Time to sign off and travel my day in the peace obtained for me by the One who could obtain it.